Friday, April 16. 2004
No, we won't just SHUT UP!
I often see an email caught in the spam queues at work that goes something like this:
And that's the point. The imposition of religion in civil society results in the minority religious opinions being repressed and shouted down. People who have been chosen to have civil power MUST remain neutral with regards to religion - that means politicians,(public) teachers, judges, law enforcement, etc.
Now, I am personally more offended by the fact that it was Joe McCarthy that put "Under God" into the pledge of allegiance then I am by the actual words. But when I see the kind of ideas like that email floating around, I get worried that a large part of the population of this country seem to have forgotten that this country was founded on the idea that civil liberties extend to ALL people, not just those we agree with.
Also, people seem to think they live in a straight democracy. We don't. A democracy is an unworkable institution for any group larger than about 5 people. We live in a republic. A form of representative democracy where we elect representatives to the government whose integrity, common sense and good faith we rely on to govern us. And when they show a lack of integrity, common sense and good faith, well, we vote the bastards out and try again.
Why is it that if 86% of the people in this country believe in God that we have such a hard time with ["Under God|"In God We Trust"]? We should just tell the other 14% to ["SHUT UP"|"Go Live Somewhere Else"]
And that's the point. The imposition of religion in civil society results in the minority religious opinions being repressed and shouted down. People who have been chosen to have civil power MUST remain neutral with regards to religion - that means politicians,(public) teachers, judges, law enforcement, etc.
Now, I am personally more offended by the fact that it was Joe McCarthy that put "Under God" into the pledge of allegiance then I am by the actual words. But when I see the kind of ideas like that email floating around, I get worried that a large part of the population of this country seem to have forgotten that this country was founded on the idea that civil liberties extend to ALL people, not just those we agree with.
Also, people seem to think they live in a straight democracy. We don't. A democracy is an unworkable institution for any group larger than about 5 people. We live in a republic. A form of representative democracy where we elect representatives to the government whose integrity, common sense and good faith we rely on to govern us. And when they show a lack of integrity, common sense and good faith, well, we vote the bastards out and try again.
Trackbacks
Trackback specific URI for this entry
No Trackbacks
Comments
Display comments as
(Linear | Threaded)
QUOTE:
And when they show a lack of integrity, common sense and good faith, well, we vote the bastards out and try again.
I was with you until this sentence, but PLEASE do vote the bastard out and try again this time. It's not just American's that suffer because of George W. Kerry just has to be better, purely because he couldn't be worse.
And let's not forget what George Snr said.
"No, I don't know that atheists should be considered as citizens,
nor should they be considered patriots. This is one nation under God."
--George Bush Snr. 1987
Shanness, a very concerned Australian. I'll do my part and try to get rid of our John Howard.
Just like dad - one term only.
George W called himself a "A uniter, not a divider". He was correct, but not in the way he intended.
Shi'a and Sunni Muslim are working together to kill American soldiers because of his failed policies abroad.
And Democrats, a famously fractious party from the Northeastern Liberals to the Midwestern Steel workers to the southern Dixiecrats to the Hollywood types are united under one idea.
"Anyone But Bush".
Not only that, but it is very possible that Democrats may retake the Senate - the legislative body whose longest legacy is that they confirm Supreme Court Justices, who set the course of our legal system for decades.
The Spanish and the South Koreans have started the swing to the left. Time for the US, Britain and Australia to follow suit.
George W called himself a "A uniter, not a divider". He was correct, but not in the way he intended.
Shi'a and Sunni Muslim are working together to kill American soldiers because of his failed policies abroad.
And Democrats, a famously fractious party from the Northeastern Liberals to the Midwestern Steel workers to the southern Dixiecrats to the Hollywood types are united under one idea.
"Anyone But Bush".
Not only that, but it is very possible that Democrats may retake the Senate - the legislative body whose longest legacy is that they confirm Supreme Court Justices, who set the course of our legal system for decades.
The Spanish and the South Koreans have started the swing to the left. Time for the US, Britain and Australia to follow suit.
Here's to hoping that they'll swing in time! The "Anyone but Bush" sentiment has to help other runners, assuming it's not just the existing democrat voters that believe it.